Mechanism for disengaging and engaging the main governors in steam hoisting-engines



E. SCHNEIDER. MEcHANlsN ron msENGNGlNG NND ENGNGING INE MAIN GovEnNons |N STEAM Holsme ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED DEC.24, |917- l 4 1,327,633. l i Patented Jan. 13,1920.

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E. SCHNEIDER. MEcHAmsm ron nlsENGAGlNG Ano ENG/sms 1HE-mm Govenuoas m STEAM .Holsme ENGIIQES.

APPLICATION FILED DECJ 19H- .Panted Jan. 13, 1920.'4

E. SCHNEIDER.

MECHANISM FOR DISENGAGING AND ENGAGING TH E MAIN GOVE'RNORS lIN STEAM HOISTING ENGINES.

APPUCATION FHED DEC. 24 19H.

Patented Jan. 13,1920.

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UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

EUGNE scrnvnIDnn, or rAnIsrnnNcnfAssIGNon 'ro SCHNEIDER a GIE., on. PARIS,

FRANCE, .Ay LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF IERAI'CE.`

MECHANI'SM FOR DISNGAGING AND ENGAGING THE MAIN GOVlilll'fhTORS` IN STEAM HOISTING-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed December 24, 1917. Serial No. 208,714.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EUGNE SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of No. 42 Rue dAnjou, Paris, and Le Creusot, France, have invented a new and useful Mechanism for Dsengaging and Engaging the Main Governors in team Hoisting-Engines, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.,v

This invention relates to an apparatus which will allow of disengaging the governor of a steam engine, for example a hoisting engine, while running at full speed'by acting upon the connection between thel gov,- ernor and the valve gear, the object being to provide an improved apparatus of this type.

The invention comprises an apparatus of this kind wherein in the transmissionconnecting the governor sleeve to the valve'gear, a device is provided which allows thegovernor to be disconnected from the valvefgear and is characterized by the provision of means for actuating such device,` which means effect at the same time the disconnection of the governor from the valve gear and the return of that part of the transmission associated with the valve gear into a xed position corresponding to the position of the valve desired.

In other words the improved apparatus according to the invention allows not only of disengaging in the known way the connection between the governor and the valve gear but also allows of returning at the same time the valve gear into the position corresponding to the low ball position of the governor at which position such a gear is locked.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in its application, by way of example, to a puppet valve gear.

The general arrangement of the connection between the governor and the expansion gears is illustrated in Figure 1 which shows the parts in their positions corresponding to thelelevated position of the governor balls.

Fig. .2' is a correspondingscctional elevation showing the governor disconnected, and

Fig. 3 is a partial cross section on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

The valve gear which may be of any suitable type comprises'in the example illustrated a suspension hook a for each valve formed at the end of one of the arms A of a connecting rod and crank gear of the engine, and at its other end at B3 to a rod D which is in its turn connected to a connecting rod F by means of a bell crank lever E1-E pivoted at a liXed point e. This con-,

necting rod F is normally under the influence of the centrifugal governor. It influences the valve gear by displacing the fulcrum pin B3 of the catch lever B-B1, A connecting rod F1 connected to an arm E2 of the lever E-E1, acts upon the other valve of the engine. i

In Figs. 1 and 2, G is the sleeve of a ball governor of any known type of which it is unnecessary to give a detailed description, since the present Ainvention consists solely in the special connection between the sleeve G and the member (connecting rods F, F1 or other members) which is under the control of this lsleeve and by its movements influences the valve gear of the engine.

According to this invention the said connection comprises a coupling which connects normally both portions of the connecting means, one portion ending at the governor sleeve G and the other portion ending at the member D whose position which is variable by the action of the governor, influences the valve gear. H is a connecting rod belonging to that part of the connecting means that remains constantlyconnected to the governor sleeve. F is a connecting rod belonging to that part ofthe connecting means that will remain permanently connected to the member D whose position infiuences the valve gear. p

The invention comprises a device which can be operated by `hand or by power, and which allows of breaking or restablishing at will the connectionv between the two members `or portions of the connecting means (in the exam le, between the connecting rods II and F The same apparatus allows of causing the disconnection to be followed by a return and a locking of that portion of lthe connecting means (member F) that is connected to the valve gear, into the position which it occupies normallyy when the governor balls are in their lowest position.

In the example shown,"thc two members H and F are two connecting rods normally connected together by means of a shaft I arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the engine, journaled in fixed bearings I1 and having fixed on it a lever K which is connected to the member F, and a lever L with the free end of which the member H is adapte-d to engage.

It is to be understood that the shaft I may be common to two engines connected to the same governor and it may carry for this purpose, two levers K connected each to a member F actuating a corresponding de- Vice D.

The engagement of the connecting rod H with the lever L is effected normally by means of a fork H1 which is formed on the connecting rod H, and which is arranged astride a roller L1 carried by the end of the said lever L.

The disengaging mechanism comprises a member operable by hand or by power, and adapted in its travel to effect first a disengagement between the fork H1 and the lever L, then the return of the lever L, and consequently the return of the shaft I and the connecting rod F, into the position they occupy when the governor balls are in their lowest position, so that the whole system which enables the governor to influence the valve gear, is from that moment placed Out of operation by being locked.

In the example shown, the said disengaging member consists of a suitably guided stirrup M1-M-M1'the vertical limbs l 1 M1 of which carry in bearings rollers M1 by means of which they can raise the connecting member H and disengage the fork H1 from the roller L1. The base M of the stirrup is in its turn arranged to act upon the member F. For this purpose the lever L carries two arms N, N1 provided each at its free end with a roller n, a1.

By way of example, the stirrup M1--M- M1 is assumed to have been constructed for operation by compressed air. The base. M is `for this purpose fixed to a piston P working in a cylinder O which can be fixed on one of the brackets Q carrying the bearings I1 of the shaft I. The branches M1, M1 of the stirrup are extended at their lower ends and are guided by means of these extensions M2 in lugs O1 formed in one piece with the cylinder O.

The governor being in the position shown in Fig. 1, then if it is supposed that the 'engine driver wishes to produce the disengagement, he turns the handle 1 of the distributing device 10 to open up communication between pipe l1 connected to a source of air under pressure and pipe 12 which leads-to cylinder O thereby admitting compressed air under piston P and causing it to ascend. The top roller m1 of the left hand limb M1 of the stirrup will first raise the connecting rod H until all connection between the latter and the lever L has been broken. This operation (which constitutes the disengaging operation proper) having been effected, then the base M of the stirrup will meet the roller n and will return the lever L toward the position corresponding to the low ball position of the governor. This position will be final when the strokelimiting stops m2 formed on the extensions W1 will meet the lower lugs o1 of the cylinder. But at that moment the roller a1 will be depressed and would have also met the base M of the stirrup, so that any movement of the lever L is rendered impossible from that moment onward and the mechanism is thereby locked.

Fig. 2 shows the parts in the disengaged position; the fort H1 of the connecting rod H being shown in dash and dot lines for the case where the engine is working, and in full lines for the case where the engine is stopped (low ball position).

The engagement of the governor must always be effected during its stoppage. There is no justification whatever for engaging the governor while it is working, because the disengaging operation is required only during purely special conditions of working and is necessary throughout the descent of the load. On the other hand it would not be prudent to couple the whole of the expansion gear suddenly to the governor while the latter is working, as such coupling would cause erratic movements of the governor sleeve, the effect of which would be to cause the engine to operate with periods of oscillation, the transmission of which would be extremely injurious to the hoisting cables.

AThe engaging operation is effected by connecting the cylinder O with the exhaust pipe 9 by turning handle 1 of the distributing device 10 in the proper direction. Under the action of the weight of the parts and of the counterweight P1 provided on the end of the piston rod, the latter moves down, then releases first the rollers n and a1, and then produces an engagement of the connecting rod H and the lever L. The extended limb 71,1 of the fork H1 is designed to promote this engagement.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In apparatus for disconnecting an engine governor, while running, from its valve gear, the combination of link members adapted to connect said governor and valve gear, and means independent of the governor acting in one direction to disconnect the governor from Said valve gear and to restore the valve gear to a predetermined osition and acting in the opposite direction to connect said link members.

2. In apparatus for disconnecting an engine governor, While running, from its valve gear, the combination of link members one of which connects at one end with said governor, the opposite end being provided with a fork, the other of said members being connected With said valve gear, a rocking member one arm of which is adapted to engage said fork, the opposite arm of which is pivotally connected to said valve gear link, and means movable into engagement with said governor link to disengage said fork from said rocking member and Von further movement to tilt said rocking member and restore said valve gear to a predetermined position. n

3. In apparatus for disconnecting an engine governor, while running, from its valve gear, the combination oflink members one of Which connects at one end With said governor, the opposite end being provided with a fork, the other of said link members being connected with said valve gear, arocking lever having side arms one end of said lever being adapted to engage said fork, the opposite end of said lever having a pivot connection With said Valve gear link, and means for disengaging said links and for locking one of the same in a predetermined position comprising a movable head having limbs and means for moving said head into position for said limbs to lift said fork from engagement With said rocking member and on further movement for said head to engage said arms to lock the valve gear link in a predetermined position.

4L. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said movable head has a connection With a fluid-operated piston the piston rod of which is provided With a connected Weight for facilitating descent of the piston and automatic releasing of said arms and rengagement of said links.

In'testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER. Witnesses:

ANDR MosTIoKER, CHAS. P. PREssLY. 

